R&D Systems Engineering Lead

Iowa State University - College of Design; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Iowa State University is seeking an R&D Systems Engineering Lead to develop people, grow technical capability, and lead projects focused on advanced digital agriculture systems with industry partners. The role combines engineering leadership with hands-on delivery across embedded systems and data platforms.

The position emphasizes coaching, collaboration, and continuous improvement, working within the Digital Agriculture Innovation Lab to advance field deployments and technology validation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience.
• Experience leading engineering teams and projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage, coach, mentor engineers and students.
• Set engineering standards and best practices.
• Provide hands-on leadership for integrated digital systems.
• Coordinate planning, reviews, and resource allocation.

Skills

Systems engineering

Leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Position Title: R&D Systems Engineering Lead Job Group: Professional & Scientific Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience

Job Description: Build the Future of Agriculture If you want your engineering work to move beyond the lab—onto real machines and into real farm fields—this is the role for you.

Who We Are

The Digital Ag Innovation Lab partners with leading agricultural companies to imagine, design, and deploy next-generation technologies for agriculture. Our team works at the intersection of applied engineering, industry collaboration, and the land-grant mission, moving ideas from concept to prototype to field deployment and ultimately into industry adoption.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an R&D Systems Engineering Lead to develop people, grow technical capability, and lead projects focused on the development, integration, and field validation of advanced digital agriculture systems with industry partners. As Digital Ag continues to grow, this hands-on engineering leadership role will strengthen both team capability and project execution.

What You'll Do

• Manage, coach, mentor, and develop engineers, technicians, graduate students, and student employees through clear expectations, feedback, performance management, and professional development.
• Build technical capability by establishing engineering standards, best practices, knowledge sharing, and workforce development across digital systems, embedded computing, sensing, automation, robotics, connectivity, and data systems.
• Provide hands‑on technical leadership for integrated digital agriculture systems spanning embedded systems, sensing, robotics, connectivity, computing, and agricultural equipment.
• Support delivery across multiple concurrent engineering efforts through project planning, estimation, technical reviews, risk management, and resource coordination.
• Build trusted relationships with sponsors, OEMs, technology partners, and research collaborators by aligning technical work to customer objectives and supporting reviews, roadmap planning, and future opportunities.
• Assess workload, capability, and staffing needs while improving technical quality, collaboration, accountability, and the processes needed to scale the organization.

What You Bring

• Strong systems thinking and technical depth across integrated hardware and software systems.
• Experience leading complex engineering work from concept through deployment or field validation.
• Experience managing, developing, and mentoring engineers and technical staff.
• Ability to balance competing priorities across people, projects, resources, and technical objectives.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills with technical teams, customers, and industry partners.
• A hands‑on leadership style centered on coaching, collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement with the ability to balance technical work and project delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and integrating complex digital, embedded, automation, or connected systems.
• Experience with agricultural, off‑highway, automotive, robotics, or other complex equipment platforms.
• Experience working with OEMs or industry partners on product development, applied research, or technology validation.
• Experience leading customer‑driven or externally funded engineering projects and working directly with external sponsors or customers.

Candidate will be hired as an R&D Engineer IV.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Appointment Type: Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term). Proposed End Date or Length of Term: October 25, 2029. Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12. Month Work Period Time Type: Full time. Pay Grade: PS813.

Why Choose Iowa State University?

Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:

• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran.

Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. [phone], email [e-mail].

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.

Current employees (excluding temporary, student and graduate assistants) must apply through the Workday Internal Careers Hub.

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds.

Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities. Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community.

Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran.

Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [e-mail] or call [phone] or Toll-Free: [phone]. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or [phone].

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.